As welcome home shows go, this is definitely the one, and after a long wait to hear music, and see fans packing a huge venue, we know tickets will be snapped up straight away.
In fact the tickets were. and so fast, that the guys have now added a second date on Friday 17th December, with the sold out gig on Saturday 18th.
More of that in a moment.
Ahead of the big gigs in Cardiff the guys have just announced a run of very special UK dates for November and December 2021 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their multi-platinum album Just Enough Education To Perform.
The band will perform J.E.E.P. in its entirety plus brand new music and more.
As you can imagine, these tickets will fly, especially as there is only one date nearby. The get to Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Saturday 27th November from 7pm. At this stage we don’t know any secrets to getting in early for the tickets, but our team are on the case right now.
As it is, you can buy yours HERE from 9am on Friday 29th. Bookmark this page, and come back later, we’ll try and find out more. Best of luck.
With STEREOPHONICS headlining and SIR TOM JONES and CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN in support, it really couldn’t be any more Wales – oh yes, the venue for the big shows is the home of rugby, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
We know Stereophonics are bursting to play. It’s been a long while since they’ve been able to take to the stage back home.
It will be their first gig in the capital since shows just before Wales went into the Covid lockdown in 2020. In fact, we reckon the last time they played in South Wales was their massive gig in Swansea back in 2019.
Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones said…………..
“The Millennium Stadium is the place I saw my first gig with all my older brothers watching the Rolling Stones in 1989 at the old Arms Park. I was about 14. Then we headlined it in 2001 and 2003.
“After almost two years of being locked down and families all having their own stories of stress and pressure and loss I wanted to give something to the Welsh people to feel good about. Something we can celebrate – music and singing along. So, I asked some good friends. Tom a man who has shared a stage with literally everyone in show business, I’ve had some of the best nights of my life with him and I’m sure this will be another!
And I have always loved Catfish and The Bottlemen – Van has always been a big fan of us since he was a kid. There’s a welcome in the stadium for everyone, come raise a glass and make some memories.”
With unparalleled longevity and continued success, STEREOPHONICS are a band woven into the fabric of popular music. Kelly Jones continues to cement his place amongst the great British songwriters. Having achieved 6 number 1 albums, 10 top 10 albums, 23 Platinum Sales Awards, 8.5 million albums sold in the UK alone, 5 BRIT nominations and 1 BRIT Award win, and still headlining arenas and festivals to legions of dedicated fans, they stand as undeniable giants of the current music scene.
If you were at Swansea back then you know what we mean.
Here’s a couple of classics from STEREOPHONICS songbook……..
- FLY LIKE AN EAGLE
- DAKOTA
- THE BARTENDER AND THE THIEF
- HANDBAGS AND GLADRAGS
- FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE (Yes, that song and it is them – it’s awesome)
Obviously we’ll get to hear the crowd pleasers – wouldn’t be a STEREOPHONICS gig without them. But hopefully we’ll get some stuff from the new album Oochya! which will be released on 4th March 2022.
The first single ‘Hanging On Your Hinges’ is out now and the guys tell us they will be playing it on a massive UK Arena tour in March/April 2022 and at the show at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
SIR TOM, who is out on tour at the moment, hasn’t been able to squeeze a South Wales date into that schedule, so this gig will be a welcome return home for him too. Of course he’s no stranger to Stereophonic as they joined together for the single ‘Mama Told Me Not to Come’. 21 years ago now believe it or not.
Sir Tom said…….
“I’ve been good friends with Stereophonics for over 20 years, and was delighted to be asked by Kelly to join them for a very special show in a very special place. I can’t wait to be there to share a great night with you all.”
We’re all hoping for a bit of revival during Stereophonics set – it would be wrong not to really fellas.
With over 100 million record sales to his name, certain milestones loom large over the horizon – and with those milestones come certain expectations.
It’s hard to know where to begin with Tom, so it has to be his South Wales roots.
Thomas Jones Woodward was born in Pontypridd in 1940 to a father who worked the coal mines of the Rhondda Valley. After quitting school at 15, working a variety of manual jobs, singing in the clubs at night and marrying at 17, Tom went on to sign with Decca Records in London.
When you’ve enjoyed 36 top 40 hits spanning five decades, the word legend comes to mind. With a catalogue of sing-a-long hits such as It’s Not Unusual, What’s New Pussycat, Delilah, If I Only Knew and Sex Bomb, they all barely scratch the surface of a career in which also takes in networked prime time TV shows spanning over five decades both in America and the UK, countless Las Vegas residencies and a string of Grammy, Ivor Novello and Brit Awards.
But, after a period of upheaval which saw him come to terms with the loss of Linda, his wife of 59 years, and spend time in hospital with a bacterial infection, Tom’s instinct was not to reflect upon his legacy, but further extend it.
If you’ve never seen Tom live before this is definitely the place to catch him. His irresistible show traverses musical eras and genres, cuts across class divides and appeals to young and old, male and female, mainstream and cutting edge. Sir Tom has always been about the power of the song, the power of the voice.
And there could well be one sight you will see at this gig……
And finally, CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN, who played an absolute incredible gig at the weekend in Singleton Park in Swansea.
The guys got together back in 2007 in Llandudno. Ryan Evan “Van” McCann and William Bibby (Billy Bibby) began playing guitar together at Bibby’s parents home, a bed and breakfast in the town – if only the guests knew.
They were joined by Benji Blakeway on bass as the third founding member of the band. Schoolmate Jon Barr followed shortly thereafter on drums. Bibby, who had been playing guitar since age 10, taught both ‘Van’ and Benji how to play.
Then it was all change when original drummer Jon Barr was replaced by Robert “Bob” Hall in 2010. He was introduced to the band by North Wales-based producer Russ Hayes who was working with them at the time.
Their debut album, The Balcony, made it into the top of the UK album charts and eventually earned them a platinum disc.
The guys have been around the world, and some, on the back of their success – South America, Japan, Europe, North America, and Australia and have done all the rounds of summer festivals – Latitude Lollapalooza, Reading and Leeds, T in the Park, and of course Glastonbury.
They picked up a Brit Award for British Breakthrough act in 2016, followed by the release of their second album, The Ride, made it to number 1 and has gone on to sell in excess of 100,000 units in the UK.
They released their third album, The Balance, which reached number 2 and is still selling well.
They have just finished an absolute blinding set at the Reading and Leeds Festival which you can still see on the iPlayer. You just need to sign in to watch.
There are more names to be added to the bill later, as soon as we know, we’ll tell you. What we do know so far is that if you’re going to the gig, we’re still looking at Covid restrictions being in place.
You’ll have to provide proof of being double-vaccinated, or a negative lateral flow test taken with 24 hours of the event.
We also understand that asks will have to be worn when you enter the stadium and move around inside.
‘WE’LL KEEP A WELCOME’ gets to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 18th December (SOLD OUT) The second date is on Friday 17th December. Tickets are £45, £65, £75, £85 (plus fees) and you can get yours HERE You can also get tickets for their tour dates from that link.